Ray sight and film holder for x-ray machines



J. HOMER Aug. 14, 1945.

RAY SIGHT AND FILM HOLDER FOR X- RAY MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1942 INVENTOR. J055PH HOME/6 147'T0RNEX Patented Aug. 14, 1945 I X 2,382,484 f N D! S AT A T mc1+ CHINES Joseph Homer, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 24,1942, SerialNo. 470,317

" Claims. (Cl. 25064) My invention relates toa, ray sight and film holder for X-ray machinesto facilitatethe making of radiographs of teeth,. dentures,. bones, and the like, in line with the focal axis of an X-ray beam.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a very, simple device for holding a SJeDSitiZed film in line with'and normal to the focal a'xi'sof the beam of an X-raytube or machine, one which may be readily manipulated to various positions for making radiographs of teeth, dentures, or bones, and one which may be readily applied ,to present types of X-ray. mach nes. f, a m i Another important object, ofthis invention is to provide 'ap'oin'ter oran index finger in connectionwith such a device, the point of which is at aflltimes alignment with the focal'axis "Of the X-ray machine, and which so positionedthat the, focal 'axis or the center of the picturejmay be readily determined, and" which is positioned behind the film so that it willnot'int'erfere with imageof a, tooth, denture, bone, or the'like,',on the radiograph or ,roentgenogram.

A further important object of this-invention isto providemeans for firmly holding a, film in substantially position to facilitate the making'of'aradiograph or roent'genogram of' any tooth, denture, bone, or the like. I

j 'A still further object of this invention is to provide means for easily and quickly clamping the film at any portion of its margin against a'face, which normal tojthe focal axis of the X-ray tube or -machine,and particularly against the face of the index means which at alltimes determines the focal'axis of the machine at any desired point'on the A still further important object of this invention is to provide-means of readily securing the film holder on} the head of 'an X-ray unit or machine, with a"; minimum'or equipment or parts, and inwhich'the ray sight and holder is supported on a part of the head of the X-rayunit or machine which normally rotates about the focal axis of the machine. w

With these 'andother objects' in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a. my sight and film holder of this "class: whichis simple andeconomical of construction," as will'be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappended claims; -reference being had to the accompanying; drawing: andthe characters of-reference thereon- 'which'form a part of this application; in which: a

- Fig. 1 is a'fragmentary, side view of the head portion of an X-ray unit showing my ray sight and film holder, in a preferred form of construction, mounted on the head thereof, and showing by dotted lines the head ina downwardly swung position; j .t a i I Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of the, film holdershowninFlg. 1'; I ff f Fig. 3 'is an enlarged end view thero'ftaken at 3--3'of Fig. Land ShoWingbydQttedIIines', the holder shifted in a different angular position about the focal axis;

Fig. 4' is an enlarged sectional viewth'ereo'f, taken through; 4- -4 of Fig. 1.] 1

My inventionmay be used with or'incorporated in various-typeset X- ray units e'mployedin the profession, and the device shown-may be applied or secured to s'ui'table'portibn thereof. i'Ihe invention, however, will be described as used in connection with .a. particular type of X-ray unit. v The X-ray unit, designated I in' Fig; 1 ,'is customarily provided with a tube 2 which may" swing in Variousangles. .The tube Z'throug'h whichthe X-ray beam emanates is customarily provided at its outer end with an inwardly threaded socket 3, and over the outerend thereof is'customarily provided. an'X-ray penetrable cone member 4, which isscrewablyattachedatits large diameter portion in the threaded socket: 3. The apex of *the cone member 4 is in line with the focal axis oftheX-ray beam.

- At one. side of the cone member is provided an arm ll for holding a film at its outer end in line with the focal axis of the X-ray machine. Tlhe arm may be a. rod madeuof a plastic, metal, or other material, and is secured atits innerend, by screws, integral molding, or other suitable means, to one side of and ath-the large diameter portion of the cone member; As shown,-the"arm divergesslightly outwardly from thecone mem: her and with respectto the focal'axis. The outer end of the arm is bent in; a gradual curve towards the focal axis, to facilitateinsertion-into the mouth,provided at itsextreme end with .a pointer or an iindex'finger [2, .which is pointed, the point thereof lying substantially in the focalaxis of theX-ray'beamaemanating'from the tube. The side of the:index-:fingerxl2, adjacent the X-ray tube, has azflat face II. which is substantially-normal to said'lfocal aXiS,al1d is adapted to receive thereag'ainsththe film I3 employed for making radiographs of teeth, dentures, or bones. .In the curvedportion- L4,; joining the straight portion of 'theiar'niand'the index finger, is provided a film holdins means l5. This means consists of a stem or plunger l5, which extends at an angle through said rounded portion M, a jaw l5 at the inner end of the plunger and a knob I5 at the outer end thereof for manipulating the member 15. The 'axis of the plunger l5 makes a slight angle with the face of the index finger, as shown. In the portion I4, at the inner end or edge of the face l2 of the index finger afire sr ne l it ate s ivinsen edge portienfol lhdfllm; gi The plane ofjth'e slot,

index finger. In the drawing, this angle is shown as acute and is slightly greaterthem the"? angle between the axis of the plunger and "the face. The slot is narrow so as frictionallyuto retain the edge portion of the f lm. The purpose of the angular position oithe slot is't'o bend the edge of the film slightly with respecttothe main portion of the film for aiding in holding the film in place befotieit is secured by the clamping member lii-The jaw l5 of thefilm securing member '15 is" ofisettowards'j the face-,f is relatively sharp, assliow'n in Fig. Li-and 25 order to make a radiograph p1 denture, or bone, the edgeor.'corner of'afilnr provided with teeth, as shown in Fig. 4.

I! lslilserted into'the slot I; the film taking the positbnsu it n i ny' fa'sg shown y d tt d in Fig. 1. When the member liis'fdrawln out? arcuyby the knob. i 'fithei w i 'anp the race m, bend the. aim; iuruieraboutftn 99???? ew d i il si l ti; and. came lm a a ns the. f i mbin i r s t o i2mai s. i he e g P-Q P- 'Q hefihna iah s ampins f in w s iiijwnpiii nena attains secured in the slot and against the face depends, 120 1 the na ure. of theradiesranh desired tosbe Though lhave. shown and 'describeda partieufl 1am construction, vcoznbinatium, and arrangement of halts, amtportionsof-myufilm holder, l -do-not wish. tube limited toithasame, but-desire twin elude-in the scoperofl my invention theconstmca ti0n,. .combination,. and arrangement substam tiall-M as set. forth in the appended-chime 1. In a device of the class-'descrlbed'foran x -ray machine, an armadapted'to'be secured relative-to the X-ray machine-s0 as to extend outwardly from the head of the machine-the generahdireotiom of the- X-ray beamemanating therei rom, said am having a-faoesubstsintially normal-to the focal axisof-- the beam and adapted to-reoeive a mm theroagainst, and a film securingmeans comprising: a plungem reciprocally mounted: on the arm on an axis extending at a slight angle backwardlwfroma the-portion ot the face. adjacent the supporting. arm, said :plungen beingilprovidedl at one snot with a transverse Jaw parallel to. the face tor clamping a, film against the latter, the outer end portion oftlthe ;plunger divergingfromithefacet.1,

. .2'. In amdeviceaof, the; class, described. .for an X-ras: machine, an: arm adapted to. be-.. secured relative to-the XRIQM machine .$1-8S to; extend outwardly from. the .head of the. machineiiniithe general direction ofi tbaX-ray= beam emanatin thenefizom,- said arxm 9i face snbstantialhg normal to. thefocal ofr the; beam, said. am beingralso providedi within.- transverse slot lediae. cut/1m face; the plain: ofl'thefslot exmndim 110 preferably, is located at" a slight angle, either obtuse or acute, with respect to the face of they,

i ic: t e isi-rj ecsiitajme firmly m1 backwardly at a slight angle from and with respect to the face, one edge of a film being adapted to extend into said slot, and a film securing means comprising a plunger reciprocally mounted on the arm on an axis extending at a slight angle backwardly from the portion of the face adjacent the supporting arm, said plunger being positioned between the slot and the head of the X-ray machine, and the angle, between the plunger and the race being less one the angle between the slot and said face, said plunger being provided at one end with a transverse jaw paral- 1e1 to the face for clamping said film against thelatter. 1'5 "3."In a device of the class described for an X-ray an arm adapted to be secured relative to the X-ray machine so as to extend 'out'wardlyfrom' the'head of the machine in the generalgdirection of the X-ray beam emanating 20 therefrom, said arm having an index finger, the end thereof lying substantiallrin the focal axis ofthe beam, and means on the arm for securing a film between the X-ray machine and the index finger."

relative to the X-ray' machine so as'to extend outwardly from'the head '01 the machine in the general directionof the Xf-ray' beam emanating" therefrom, said'arm having an'tndex finger, the

endthereof lying substantially iii-m focal axis end thereof lying, suhstaxitlaliy in the. focal aa sric 9 c i d o m K12 i mac in -1w s e Wa r lative to he, X-w as e. Qut ardlr r n chs i 9 1 i e 2 gener l dir ctim Q! the. Xrranbswa e icamtv here rom aid-emb em. he th reof; lyinuuhs eotiellslu s al.

the side of the index nnggpagJac entta the x; my. machine harms ai msu am ll 'nn m osaid focal axis. said als P v de with a transverse, latadlment tba flmer; th plane 05 he lot xtendmsybockwatdlv Mia slight an la iircun w;;lllth;rmzh' the.- face, of, the finger; onaedtze: of; nfllnnbelfll to extend; into saidslntland; mfllmimmiae. means on the arm for holdintlthnz filmlageimt saidrfiaee. .17; In an'X-rammachinmianjX-ru. tube bead tonanrojectinwan. X-nm beam. mid: band having a. threaded? and; comx iaklwith. tbmxn-w bun emanating from thoihaad', or one member aerate ablymounted: qnfizlm rtlmelded and at: women, theiapox or the: cone outwardly! from saidfihead? andmltgnut axis; a film holding extending-0mm from. the cone member with one end. secured, to (new 7;: ofithe-lwrge Munster-powwow ottiie conemen- 4. In a device of the class described foran' X-rayrnachine, an arm adapted to be'secnred her, an index finger at the outer end of the arm, the end thereof lying substantially in said focal axis, and means on the arm for securing a film between the X-ray tube head and the index finger.

8. In an X-ray machine, an X-ray tube head for projecting an X-ray beam, said head having a threaded end coaxial with the X-ray beam emanating from the head, a cone member screwably mounted on the threaded end of said head, the apex of the cone extending outwardly from said head and aligned with said focal axis, an arm extending outwardly from the cone member with one end secured to one side of the large diameter portion of the cone member, said arm having an index finger, the end thereof lying substantially in said focal axis, the side of the index finger adjacent the head having a face substantially normal to said focal axis, and a film securing means on the arm for holding a film against said face.

9. In an X-ray machine, an X-ray tube head for projecting an X-ray beam, said head having member with one end secured to one side of the large diameter portion of the cone member and adjustable circumferentially about said axis with the rotation of the cone, said arm being provided at its outer end with an index finger, the end thereof lying substantially in said focal axis, the finger being constructed for receiving a film thereagainst and for guiding the positioning of the film.

10. In an X-ray machine, an X-ray tube head for projecting an X-ray beam, said head having a threaded end coaxial with the X-ray beam emanating from the head, a cone member screwably mounted on the threaded end of said head, the apex of the cone extending outwardly from said head and aligned with said focal axis, and

an index arm extending outwardly from the cone member with one end secured to one side of the large diameter portion of the cone member, and adjustable circumferentially about said axis with the rotation of the cone, said arm being provided at its outer end with an index finger, the end thereof lying substantially in said focal axis, said finger having a face substantially normal to said focal axis, the finger being constructed for receiving a film fiatwise against said face and for guiding the positioning of the film.

JOSEPH HOMER. 

